Centenary of the University of Dhaka

DHAKA University has turned 100. This premier educational institution was set up on July 01, 1921 to fulfil the demands of the people of the then East Bengal following annulment of the Partition of Bengal in 1911. A fully residential university at the beginning it was called the Oxford of the East. This university has played a significant role in the cultural, socio-economic and political life of the people of this land. Dhaka University has played a defining role in every important political juncture in the history of what was once East Bengal before it became East Pakistan, finally emerging as independent Bangladesh. Teachers and students of the university spearheaded the historic language movement which in time inspired the movements for social and political rights and the demand for political autonomy finally taking the shape of the movement for self determination and independence. However, the highest seat of learning in the country, according to many, has not succeeded to live up to its core role of creating new knowledge through research and experiment for many years. Politicisation, inappropriate policy let the university experience freefall.
 After the independence of Bangladesh, the students and teachers of the university also struggled for restoration of democratic governance in 1991. Also the quota-free movement for abolishing discrimination was spearheaded by students of this university. In academic achievements, undeniably we slipped from the high standards following the emergence of Bangladesh, especially in the 21st century. In terms of global university rankings, like the recently published well-recognised QS World University Ranking, DU has remained in an unchanged position for years, at the 801-1000 range.
There are many things to do to restore the image of this premier university by overcoming all the insufficiencies we currently experience. In this age of globalisation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, considering the good and bad effects of science and technology, Dhaka University has been trying to move forward in anticipation of the challenges of the 21st century, which makes us optimistic. It is our expectation that DU will develop the meritorious students of the society as skilled human resources with generous, humane, and scientific outlooks. The successes that the nation has in terms of development, politics and bureaucracy; and the direction towards which we are moving — have all sprouted from this university. Putting all odds aside, let’s celebrate the centenary of this great institution even during this pandemic with the hope that it would once again give us new knowledge and guidance.